It's a LONG post of question and details.
I had to buy a cheap $20 amazon cable (IEM didn't come with included cable). It was a MMCX-3.5mm IEM Ag plated Cu 28 AWG cable which shorted quickly at MMCX. This cable/IEM combo has a kinda nasty harsh sibilance esque distortion/Hz spike in treble that effects many female vocals and nearly all snare/snap/clap type sounds.
* I have some DIY Lavricable 28 AWG solid core pure Ag cryo wire (it was a gift), but I don't think the Ag wire alone is a good match for my IEM nor offer the sound signature I want. * So I'm mainly looking for recommendations for good Cu based wire (Not DHC) to pair with solid core Pure Ag wire for desired sound signature and qualities. Along with some other recommendations, tips, info, etc for other aspects of the cable build that are posted towards the end. It's my 1st headpiece cable build, my experience is with guitars/amps mainly, home/car/boat audio and CB radios.
* I have ongoing sight loss that varies wildly. So I'd appreciate brief/direct posts/links for help/recommendations, etc. Took me 2.5 months for this. Thanks.
* Sound wise, I'm looking to add Cu based wire to pair with solid core pure Ag wire, that will really smooth out the top end sizzle/sibilance/distortion and frequency peak/resonance from female vocals, snare/clap/snap like sounds and some horns/brass, etc in Treble/High Mids that current wire/IEM combo displays. Ideally a silky/smooth more delicate leaning high end with a sweet, warmer tonality, has modestly good air and extension, along with a decently balanced amount of sparkle in upper Mids/Treble.
* Overall, I would like a natural, lush, musical, warmer (but doesn't color the sound too much), sweeter tonality that's nicely balanced. Has fairly decent size and quality more 3D esque Soundstage and imaging with fairly good holographic quality to it, is more open sounding, has great depth to notes from modestly decent deeper black background, has natural sounding cohesion, layering and presentation, very natural sounding note decay, solid definition, doesn't get congested, muddy or bloated, modestly decent resolution, modest/natural dynamics (just don't want music to sound choked), has fairly good level and speed punch when called for, decently tight/controlled bass/sub bass with fairly good levels but doesn't bleed into other parts, good natural pace/flow to music that isn't stiff/clinical nor border on sloppy. A lost in the moment and enjoyment of the music type experience, not critical listening.
* That excels at female and harmonized vocals, all guitars, stringed instruments (classic European orchestra to European and global ethnic types, violin, cello, fiddle, mandolin, sitar, etc), pianos and similar, keys/synths and decent male vocals.
* I listen to a lot of female vocals in wide variety of genres (Katherine Jenkins, Dua Lippa, Broods, Tove Styrke, Fugees, Camila Cabello, Ani DiFranco, to Jefferson Airplane), 2nd most is legit rock (classic 50s-70s rock, 1980s-00s alt/indie rock, heavy/hard rock and Nu & Prog metal), 3rd is a good amount of reggae/tropical based and EDM/pop influenced stuff. Plus fair bit of blues & jazz, some bosa nova, flamenco, country, r & b/soul and ethnic (India, Middle Eastern, Balkan/Eastern Mediterranean) at times... for reference of my regular musical tastes.
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☆ Specs:
* Wire Material: Copper based (Unplated Cu, Gold plated Cu, Tin plated Cu, Copper combined with some Gold. Just not Silver plated)
* Ohno Continuous Cast/OCC
* Oxygen Free, High/Ultra Pure 4N-5N purity (or better)
* Prefer Cryogenically Treated/Alpha, but not absolutely required
* Litz is supposedly better, but stranded wire is fine I guess
* Jacket & Dielectric: lower level to nearly no noise from cable movement and static (cable will be inside a techflex like outer jacket).
* Cable AWG/Strands/O.D.: prefer in the 26-22 AWG size. I'll leave strand count to those who know about it. Preferably outer diameter is smallish in size since Ag Lavricable is bit large. I just don't want to have to battle the wires when assembling cable, wrapping wire behind my ears (only way IEM designed to work) or when moving around
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☆ Budget/Price:
* I'd prefer ballpark around $50, with max of $60 USD (without shipping) for enough wire for 2, 4 or 6 individual conductors of DIY wire for a completed cable 3.25-3.5 feet long, possibly 4 feet.
* It's definitely more about quality, sound signature and characteristics than number of conductors.
☆ Works out to roughly Preferred or Less/Absolute Max Price in USD a foot per conductor at:
* 2 conductors, 26-22 AWG (3.5 each/7 feet total): $7.15/$8.60 a foot
* 4 conductors, 30-26 AWG (3.25 each/13 feet total): $3.85/$4.60 a foot
* 6 conductors, 30 AWG or smaller (3.33 each/20 feet total): $2.50/$3.00 a foot
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☆ Parts I currently have:
* Pair of IEMs
* 1.5m of Lavricable DIY cryo treated 28 AWG solid core pure Ag wire in Teflon jackets, 4 conductors total
* 1 Eidolic SE gold plated 3.5mm male plug
* L/R label heat shrink
* DHC Capsid Y split
* DHC hot adhesive
* Cinch slider
* MDPC Sleeving for outer jackets (2 different colors for main cable and L/R)
* Mod PC finishing heat shrink
* WBT Ag with lead, Johnson Ag, Mundorf Ag/Gold and Cardas Quad eutectic solders
* Probably can reuse bendy/memory wire from shorted out amazon cable
However, I didn't receive the Eidolic MMCX or DHC Cu litz wire from DHC with rest of my order and dude isn't responding to emails since mid January
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☆ Parts I still need:
* Top quality DIY MMCX connectors for cable (brand and store. Norne doesn't sell them either and I won't buy from from DHC again)
* Top quality Cu based DIY wire to pair with pure Ag wire (Not from DHC. Something sound wise akin to Plus Sound cables like Tri Cu, Gold Plated Hybrid or Gold Plated Cu. They're finished cables of those type are outside my budget.)
* Store name, brand and type recommendations for wide variety of good quality IEM ear tips (not Comply, their foam sport sounded great with old earbuds, but don't sound very well with current IEM and stock tips aren't very good)
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☆ Other Questions, Info, Techniques:
* Is there any effect on Sound Signature, SQ, etc and or preferred arrangement of each conductors metal type in relation to +/- ? And possibly number of conductors?
Examples like Ag -/Cu +, Ag -/ Cu + & Ag +, Cu -/ Ag +, Ag - & Cu -/ Cu +, etc. Single -/ 2 +, 2 -/ single + for L/R channels
* Wire braiding techniques/methods/instructions
* Suggestions for good strain relief items/parts, tricks and design/techniques at source and especially at MMCX connectors?
* The pure Ag wire outer jacket is a bit less flexible and kind of thick. What are some techniques/suggestions/tips and items for getting a well fitting, decently comfortable and flexible with good strain relief section of cable that wraps behind ears and into MMCX openings?
Thanks for reading and at help